Automobile windshield molding member and method of manufacturing the same

ABSTRACT

A molding member includes an elongate pre-shaped main body of initially constant cross section, with upper and side portions to continuously extend along respective edges of an automobile windshield plate. The main body covers a gap between the windshield plate and an automobile body panel, and has a reference point which is more spaced from the outer surface of the windshield plate along the side portion than along the upper portion. A lip section of the main body can be maintained in contact with the outer surface of the windshield plate along the upper portion with a first angle, and spaced therefrom along the side portion with a second, less steep angle. A weir of a refined appearance, with desired cross-sectional area or height, is defined along the side portion, between the windshield plate and the lip section, and prevents water on the windshield plate from flowing across the molding member.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a molding member for an automobilewindshield plate, having a cross section which varies in thelongitudinal direction of the molding member, with reference to thewindshield plate.

2. Description of the Related Art

An automobile generally employs various kinds of window molding memberwhich extends along the periphery of a windshield plate or a rear windowplate, i.e. along a front or rear edge of a roof panel of the automobilebody and a pair of front or rear pillars. Typically, the molding memberis composed of an elongate main body for covering a gap between thewindshield plate and an adjacent automobile body panel. The main bodyincludes a lip section projecting laterally toward the outer surface ofthe windshield plate on its periphery, and a leg section projectingtoward the gap for retaining the molding member in place when it is inuse.

A variety of requirements are imposed on such molding members mainlyfrom design and/or functional viewpoint and resulted in progressivelyincreased demand in the automobile industry for an improved moldingmember for a windshield plate, with a cross section which varies in thelongitudinal direction of the molding member. Thus, a recent trend is toadopt a molding member having an upper portion of a first predeterminedcross section, at least one side portion of a second predetermined crosssection, and at least one transitional or corner portion for integrallyand continuously connecting the upper and side portions with each other.

When such a molding member is arranged along the periphery of awindshield plate, the first cross section of the upper portioncontributes to realize a so-called flush surface of the automobile body,and the second cross section of the side portion serves to define a weiralong the side edge of the windshield plate. During driving in rainyconditions, the weir serves to prevent rain water on the windshieldplate from flowing across the side portion of the molding member towardan adjacent side window, and to thereby effectively preserve driver'sand/or navigator's sight through the side window. Therefore, the weirshould have an increased cross-sectional area or height, from afunctional viewpoint. However, there may be instances wherein knownmolding members could not readily cope with often ambivalent problems ofachieving the intended function while simultaneously satisfying diverseornamental design requirements.

For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-open Publication No.62-283,017 discloses one embodiment of the molding member wherein thelip section has a tip end which is in contact with the windshield platealong the upper portion and spaced therefrom along the side portion fordefining a channel-like weir of the molding member. This type of themolding member may have an increased cross-sectional area of the weir byforming the lip section to project from the automobile body panel withan increased amount. However, an excessive projection of the lip sectionoften results in that the interior of the molding member becomes visiblefrom outside, degrading the appearance of the weir as the case may be.From an esthetic viewpoint, it may be required to reduce thecross-sectional area of the weir and maintain a refined appearance,although such a weir would not ensure the intended function to beproperly achieved.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-open Publication No. 63-93,618discloses another embodiment of the molding member which includes aweir-forming element in the form of a longitudinal ridge on the lipsection, extending along the side portion of the molding member.Furthermore, Japanese Patent Application Laid-open Publication No.1-269,612 or applicant's copending U.S. patent application Ser. No.603,551 filed Oct. 26, 1990, now abandoned, discloses still anotherembodiment wherein the molding member includes a different type ofweir-forming element along the side portion of the molding member, whichis formed as a bank- or dam-like area of the leg section under the lipsection.

In these instances, when it is required for the weir to have anincreased height to stably collect and guide water on the windshieldplate, the height of adjacent automobile body panel also needs beincreased by a corresponding amount. However, the height of the bodypanel cannot always be increased by a desired amount in terms of theintended function of the weir, due to diverse ornamental designrequirements and/or technical difficulties as related to presstechnology, or the like, for producing the body panel. Here also, a weirwith insufficient height would not ensure the intended function to beproperly achieved.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore a primary object of the present invention to provide anovel and improved molding member for an automobile windshield plate,having a higher degree of freedom in respect of functional andornamental design, and providing an excellent function of the weirwithout accompanying the possible problems as discussed above.

Briefly stated, the present invention provides a molding member whichcomprises an elongate main body including upper and side portions tocontinuously extend along upper and side edges of the windshield plate,respectively, and a corner portion integrally and continuouslyconnecting the upper and side portions with each other. The main bodyserves to cover a gap between the windshield plate and an adjacentautomobile body panel, and further includes a lip section to projecttoward a widthwise center region of the windshield plate, and a legsection to project in a direction substantially perpendicular to arelevant outer surface portion of the windshield plate and having meansfor retaining the molding member in place.

According to the invention, the main body has a reference point to belocated adjacent to the automobile body panel, which is spaced from theouter surface of the windshield plate when the molding member is in use,by a first distance along the upper portion and by a second, relativelygreater distance along the side portion. The lip section has a tip endwhich can be brought into contact with the outer surface of thewindshield plate along the upper portion and spaced therefrom along theside portion, when the molding member is in use. Furthermore, the lipsection defines a first angle along the upper portion and a second, lesssteep angle along the side portion, relative to the opposite outersurface portions of the windshield plate when the molding member is inuse. The leg section has means cooperating with the lip section fordefining a weir along the side portion when the molding member is inuse, between the outer surface of the windshield plate and the lipsection. The weir serves to prevent water from flowing across themolding member and collect and guide the water along the weir.

The present invention contemplates to form a functionally excellent weirin a unique manner, by means of a predetermined spatial relationship ofthe main section relative to the windshield plate, in combination with aspecifically defined angular relationship of the lip section relative tothe outer surface of the windshield plate. Thus, it is readily possibleto realize a weir of a sufficient cross-sectional area or height,without difficulties in terms of ornamental design requirements and/orpress technology for producing the automobile body panel.

According to one embodiment, the elongate main body is pre-subjected tosuch a bending that the upper and side portions have contourscorresponding respectively to those of the upper and side edges of thewind-shield plate, to form a molding member with a desired curvature. Asan alternative embodiment, the molding member may have a straightinitial shape, and may be subjected to such a bending before or whenmounting it in place, for deforming the upper and side portions to havecontours corresponding respectively to those of the upper and side edgesof the windshield plate.

Furthermore, the lip section may be presubjected to such a plasticdeformation that, when the molding member is in use, the tip end is incontact with the outer surface of the windshield plate along the theportion and spaced therefrom along the side portion.

The leg section may have a recess which is engageable with the edge ofthe windshield plate, for maintaining a predetermined spatialrelationship of the molding member relative to the windshield plate whenthe molding member is in use.

According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a methodof manufacturing a molding member of the abovementioned structuralfeatures, basically comprising the following three steps.

The first step is to prepare an elongate preshaped member of alongitudinally constant cross section, corresponding to the main bodyand including a lip section to project toward an outer surface of thewindshield plate, and a leg section to project toward the gap.

Subsequently, the lip section is plastically deformed to thereby formthe upper and side portions of the main body such that the lip sectionhas a tip end which can be maintained in contact with the outer surfaceof the windshield plate along the upper portion and spaced therefromalong the side portion, when the molding member is in use. In thisinstance, the lip section may be subjected to such a deformation that,when the molding member is in use, the lip section defines a first anglealong the upper portion, and a second, less steep angle along the sideportion relative to the outer surface of the windshield plate.

Moreover, the leg section is provided with means for maintaining apredetermined spatial relationship of the molding member relative to thewindshield plate when it is in use, such that a reference point in themain section adjacent to the automobile body panel is spaced from theouter surface of the windshield plate by a first distance along theupper portion and by a second, relatively greater distance along theside portion. In this instance, the leg section may be formed with arecess to be engaged by the edge of the windshield plate, formaintaining the spatial relationship of the molding member relative tothe windshield plate.

Furthermore, the elongate pre-shaped member may be subjected to such abending that the upper and side portions are deformed to have contourscorresponding respectively to those of the upper and side edges of thewindshield plate.

It has to be noted that these steps, except the initial formation of theelongate pre-shaped member, may be carried out at any sequence asdesired. For example, the plastic deformation of the lip section may becarried out at any sequence; i.e., simultaneously with, before or afterthe bending of the pre-shaped member.

The present invention will now be explained in further detail, withreference to some preferred embodiments shown in the attached drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front view of an automobile windshield plate to which themolding member according to the present invention may be applied;

FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing the relationship between thewindshield plate and the molding member as seen in the direction ofarrows P1, P2, and P3 in FIG. 1;

FIGS. 3 and 4 are sectional views taken along the lines III--III andIV--IV in FIG. 1, respectively, showing the upper and side portions ofthe molding member according to a first embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 5 is a schematic view of one example of a production line,explaining the manufacturing steps of the molding member;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of an elongate preshaped body;

FIG. 7 is a schematic view showing the contour of a combined cuttermember;

FIG. 8 is a front view showing one method of forming a recess in the legsection;

FIG. 9 is a front view showing another method of forming a recess in theleg section;

FIG. 10 is a plan view showing the manner of bending the molding member;

FIGS. 11 and 12 are sectional views respectively showing the upper andside portions of the molding member of a second embodiment of theinvention;

FIG. 13 is a front view of the molding member shown in FIGS. 11 and 12;

FIGS. 14 and 15 are sectional views respectively showing the upper andside portions of the molding member of a third embodiment of theinvention; and

FIGS. 16 and 17 are sectional views respectively showing the upper andside portions of the molding member of a fourth embodiment of theinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to FIGS. 1-4, there is shown a molding member 1 accordingto a first embodiment of the present invention, which is arranged alongthe periphery of an automobile windshield plate 2. The molding member 1includes an upper portion 1a and at least one side portion 1b to beengaged with upper and side edges 2a, 2b of the windshield plate 2,respectively. The molding member 1 further includes at least one corneror transient portion 1c for integrally and continuously connecting theupper and side portions 1a, 1b with each other along a corner edge 2c ofthe windshield plate 2.

A gap is left between the windshield plate 2 and an adjacent automobilebody panel 3, which is covered by an elongate main body 4 of the moldingmember 1. The main body 4 includes a lip section 5a on the side of thewindshield plate 2, which projects toward a widthwise center region ofthe windshield plate 2 to cover its outer peripheral surface region. Aswill be more fully explained hereinafter, the lip section 5a has a freeedge which is maintained in contact with the outer surface of thewindshield plate 2 along the upper portion 1a, and spaced therefromalong the side portion, when the molding member 1 is in use (FIG. 2).

The main body 4 includes another lip section 5b on the side of the bodypanel 3, having a tip end which can be maintained in contact with theouter surface of the body panel 3.

The main body 4 may be composed of a natural or synthetic rubber.Advantageously, however, the main body 4 is composed of a suitablethermoplastic and elastomeric synthetic resin material with flexibility,such as plasticized polyvinylchroride (PVC) resin, ionomer resin,ethylenevinyl acetate (EVA) resin, transparent cellulose acetatebutylate (CAB) resin, etc.

The main body 4 can be formed by extruding such synthetic resin materialinto a desired cross section which is initially constant throughout theentire length. In this case, a plastically deformable core element 6 inthe form of a metal strip may be coextruded with the synthetic resinmaterial so as to be embedded in the main body 4. The core element 6 maybe partly exposed outside as an ornamental portion with a metallicluster or a desired color.

As particularly shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the main body 4 of the moldingmember 1 further includes a leg section 8 which projects in a directionsubstantially perpendicular to the relevant outer surface portion of thewindshield plate 2, and further extends into the gap 7 between thewindshield plate 2 and adjacent body panel 3. The leg section 8 isformed with a groove-like recess 9 which is engaged by the peripheraledge of the windshield plate 2.

The main body 4 has a predetermined reference point A, on its top regionadjacent to the body panel 3, which is spaced from the outer surface ofthe windshield plate 2 by a first distance h₁ along the upper portion 1aand by a second, relatively greater distance h₂ along the side portion1b. Typically, the distance h₁ along the upper portion 1a is within arange of 10-20 mm, preferably 12-17 mm, while the distance h₂ along theside portion 1b is within a range of 15-30 mm, preferably 17-25 mm.

A weir 10 is formed by an area 11 of the leg section 8 along the sideportion 1b of the molding member 1, on the lower side of the main body 4(FIG. 4). The weir 10 defines an inner space between the outer surfaceof the windshield plate 2 and the lip section 5a on the side of thewindshield plate 2, which serves to collect and guide water on thewindshield plate 2 and prevent the water from flowing across the moldingmember 1.

The lip section 5a on the side of the windshield plate 2 ispre-subjected to a permanent plastic deformation so that it has a firstcross section along the upper portion 1a and a second cross sectionalong the side portion 1b, which are slightly different from each other.The plastic deformation of the lip section 5a can be assisted by theplastically deformable core element 6 within the main body 4.

In the side portion 1b of the molding member 1, the lip section 5a onthe side of the windshield plate 2 is opposed to the weir-forming area11 of the leg section 8 to define a channel 12 which is in communicationwith the inner space of the weir 10 (FIG. 4).

In the upper portion 1a of the molding member 1, the lip section 5a isprovided with a projection 13 which is in engagement with an oppositeregion of the main body 4 to minimize the distance or the height of themolding member 1 in the upper portion 1a, thereby contributing toreadily realize a flush surface of the automobile body near the upperportion 1a.

The lip section 5a along its free edge is provided with a longitudinallycontinuous tip end element 14. As particularly shown in FIGS. 3 and 4,due to the the plastic deformation of the lip section 5a, the tip endelement 14 can be maintained in contact with the outer surface of thewindshield plate 2 along the upper portion 1a, and spaced therefromalong the side portion 1b.

An imaginary line passing through the reference point A and the tip endelement 14 forms a first angle θ₁ along the upper portion 1a and asecond, less steep angle θ₂ along the side portion 1b, with reference tothe relevant outer surface portions of the windshield plate 2 oppositeto the tip end element 14. Typically, the first angle θ₁ along the upperportion 1a is within a range of 10° to 30°, preferably 10° to 20°, whilethe second angle θ₂ is within a range of 15° to -30°, preferably 10° to-20°.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the leg section 8 of the main body 4 includesengaging fins 15 which are in engagement with a shoulder portion 3a ofthe body panel 3. Furthermore, the periphery of the windshield plate 2on its rear side is provided with an opaque printed layer 16 and securedto a flange portion 3b of the body panel 3 by an adhesive agent 17, witha dam rubber 18 therebetween.

As shown in FIG. 2, the lip section 5a of the main body 4 on the side ofthe windshield plate 2 typically begins to be spaced from the windshieldplate in the corner portion 1c, though such an arrangement is not aprerequisite condition. Thus, the location where the lip section 5abegins to be spaced from the windshield plate may be that location ofthe upper portion 1a or side portion 1b which is adjacent to the cornerportion 1c. Also, the distance between the lip section 5a and thewindshield plate 2 along the side portion 1b need not be constant, andmay increase toward the longitudinal end region of the molding member 1.

The molding member 1 of the abovementioned structure can be basicallymanufactured by a process to be particularly explained hereinafter withreference to FIG. 5.

First of all, an uncoiler 21 is provided which is to feed a metal stripmaterial 22 to a roll forming machine 23, which is then shaped by theroll forming machine into a profiled body 22a having a desired crosssection of the core element 6. The profiled body 22a is further appliedwith an adhesive agent by a roll coater 24, subjected to baking of theadhesive agent by a heater 25, and then fed to an extruder 26.

When a profiled body which has been previously roll-formed orpress-braked and cut into a predetermined length, or an aluminumprofiled body is fed to the extruder 26 as the core element 6, insteadof the originally non-profiled metal strip 22 from the uncoiler 21, theroll forming machine 23 may be replaced by an appropriate feeding deviceadapted to feed the profiled body to the extruder 26.

A thermoplastic synthetic resin material is coextruded from the extruder26 as an extruded body 27, together with the profiled body 22a. Theextruded body 27 is cooled at a cooling station (not shown), hauled by ahauling device 28 and then cut by a cutter 29 into a predeterminedlength to form a pre-shaped member 30 having a cross-section as shown inFIG. 6, which is initially constant throughout the entire length.

Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 6, an end mill or the like cutter 31 ismoved relative to the pre-shaped member 30 in the longitudinaldirection, so as to remove the material locally from the pre-shapedmember 30 and thereby form the recess 9 in the leg section 8, whichextends continuously in the longitudinal direction of the pre-shapedmember 30.

Depending upon the length of the leg section 8 of the main body 4, thefree end of the leg section 8 may interfere with the flange portion 3bof the automobile body panel 3, in the upper portion 1a of the moldingmember 1. If such is the case, another cutter 32 is used to cut away thefree end region of the leg section 8 in the upper portion 1a of themolding member 1, at an appropriate location indicated in FIG. 6, whileavoiding an interference of the cutter 32 with the core element 6.

Thus, for the upper portion 1a of the molding member 1, the cutters 31and 32 are simultaneously advanced toward the lip section 5a, i.e., inthe direction indicated by arrow B in FIG. 6, to form the recess 9 andremove the free end region of the leg section 8. Furthermore, for theside portion 1b of the molding member 1, the cutters 31 and 32 aresimultaneously moved back away from the lip section 5a, i.e., in thedirection indicated by arrow C in FIG. 6, to form the recess 9 alone,without removing the free end region of the leg section 8.

Instead of two separate cutter members 31 and 32 as mentioned above, acombined end-mill type cutter member 33 as shown in FIG. 7 may be used.This cutter member 33 includes a large diameter portion 33a for formingthe recess 9 in the leg section 8, and a small diameter portion 33bprojecting axially from the large diameter portion 33a for removing thefree end region of the leg section 8 in the upper portion 1a of thepreshaped member 30. The recess 9 formed by the large diameter portion33a of the combined cutter member 33 has a substantially invertedL-shaped cross-sectional contour.

When the free end region of the leg section 8 need not be removed, it isof course unnecessary to use the cutter member 32 or 33; in such a case,only what is required is to use the cutter member 31 and form the recess9 in the leg section 8. Furthermore, depending upon the situation, aplaner type cutter member may be used to form the recess 9, instead ofthe abovementioned end-mill type cutter member.

FIGS. 8 and 9 show examples of the method for forming a recess 9 in theleg section 8 of the main body 4, without removing the free end regionof the leg section 8.

In the example shown in FIG. 8, the pre-shaped member 30 is clamped by,and between a pair of die plates 41, 42 each having a clamping surfacewhich is a combination of a horizontal surface portion and inclinedsurface portions on both sides thereof. Due to the particularconfiguration of the clamping surface afforded to the die plates 41, 42,the pre-shaped member 30 as clamped has a longitudinal axis which isdeflected in accordance with the clamping surface. The cutter member 31is moved along a straight path relative to the pre-shaped member 30 toremove material from the leg section 8 and form the recess 9 therein.

Furthermore, in the example shown in FIG. 9, the pre-shaped member 30 isclamped by, and between a pair of die plates 43, 44 each having a flatclamping surface. Thus, the pre-shaped member 30 as clamped has alongitudinal axis which is straight. The cutter member 31 is movedrelative to the pre-shaped member 30, along a predetermined pathincluding a horizontal path portion and inclined path portions on bothsides thereof, to remove material from the leg section 8 and form therecess 9 therein.

Subsequently, the lip section 5a of the preshaped member 30 to bearranged in the side of the windshield plate 2 is subjected to apermanent plastic deformation by a press operation, in accordance withthe desired difference in cross-section for the upper and side portions1a, 1b of the molding member 1.

To this end, the lip section 5a of the preshaped member 30 in the upperportion 1a of the molding member 1 may be deformed and deflected towardthe leg section 8 so that the the channel 12 behind the lip section 5adisappears and the tip end element 14 is maintained in contact with thewindshield plate 2 in the upper portion 1a when the molding member 1 isin use.

Alternatively, the lip section 5a of the preshaped member 30 in the sideportion 1b of the molding member 1 may be deformed and deflected awayfrom the leg section 8 so that the channel 12 is formed behind the lipsection 5a and the tip end element 14 is maintained spaced from thewindshield plate 2 in the side portion 1b when the molding member 1 isin use.

Still another possibility is to deform and deflect the lip section 5a ofthe pre-shaped member 30 toward the leg section 8 along the upperportion 1a of the molding member 1, and away from the leg section 8along the side portion 1b.

When the molding member 1 does not include the plastically deformablecore element 6 embedded therein, the plastic deformation of the lipsection 5a can be carried out while the thermoplastic synthetic resinmaterial forming the lip section 5a is heated and softened. It should benoted, however, that such heating and softening of the synthetic resinmaterial may also serve to assist the plastic deformation of the lipsection 5a, even when the core element 6 is embedded in the main body 4of the molding member 1.

The abovementioned plastic deformation of the lip section 5a may becarried out before the formation of the recess 9 in the leg section 8,if necessary or preferred as the case may be.

When the molding member 1 does not include the core element 6 embeddedtherein, the pre-shaped body 30 after the formation of the recess 9 inthe leg section 8 and the plastic deformation of the lip section 5aconstitutes by itself the molding member 1 as the final product, whichcan be directly mounted in place by bending the molding member 1 so thatthe upper, side and corner portions 1a, 1b, 1c of the molding member 1are deformed to have contours corresponding to those of the upper, sideand corner edges 2a, 2b, 2c of the windshield plate 2, respectively.

When, on the other hand, the molding member 1 includes the core element6 embedded therein, it is necessary to bend the pre-shaped body 30 inadvance so that the upper, side and corner portions 1a, 1b, 1c of themolding member 1 are deformed to have contours respectivelycorresponding to those of the upper, side and corner edges 2a, 2b, 2c ofthe windshield plate 2. Even in this case, there may be instanceswherein the molding member 1 is stocked, sold or transported in astraight state, to be eventually subjected to the bending before it ismounted in place.

The bending of the pre-shaped member 30 can be carried out by anyappropriate method, such as a so-called stretch bending method whereinthe pre-shaped member 30 is axially stretched and simultaneously urgedagainst an outer peripheral surface 45 of a bending die plate 46 havinga contour which corresponds to that of the windshield plate 2.

Generally, the bending of the pre-shaped member 30 may be carried out atany sequence, i.e., before, after, or simultaneously with the formationof the recess 9 in the leg section 8 and/or plastic deformation of thelip section 5a. However, particularly when the bending of the moldingmember 1 tends to adversely affect the plastically deformed shape of thelip section 5a, the bending of the pre-shaped member 30 is preferablycarried out before the plastic deformation of the lip section 5a.

The molding member 1 manufactured by the process including the bendingof the pre-shaped member 30 has an overall configuration as shown inFIG. 1, and may be transported as it is. In order to minimize the spacerequired for parts stock or transportation, however, the molding member1 may be physically divided into a two-piece structure by cutting it ata center position R, or into a three-piece structure by cutting it attwo side positions S, as shown in FIG. 1.

The molding member 1 is mounted in place by inserting the leg section 8into the gap 7 between the windshield plate 2 and the body panel 3, sothat the peripheral edge of the windshield plate is engaged into therecess 9 in the leg section 8. Thus, the upper, side and corner portions1a, 1b, 1c of the molding member 1 are arranged along the upper, sideand corner edges 2a, 2b, 2c of the windshield plate 2, respectively

When the molding member 1 is in use, the weir 10 is formed along theside portion 1b of the molding member 1 only, but not along the upperportion 1a. It is thus possible to readily realize a refined flush outersurface of the automobile body near the front edge of the roof panel.Furthermore, the weir 10 along the side portion lb serves, duringdriving in rainy conditions, to prevent water on the windshield plate 2from flowing across the molding member 1, by collecting and guiding thewater to flow along the side edge 2b of the windshield plate 2. Thismakes it possible to effectively preserve the driver's and/orpassenger's sight through adjacent side windows.

Another embodiment of the windshield molding member 1 according to thepresent invention is shown in FIGS. 11 and 12 which are similar to FIGS.3 and 4, respectively. This embodiment differs from the previous one inthat the leg section 8 of the main body 4 is formed with a cutout as therecess 9 of substantially inverted L-shaped cross-sectional contour,instead of a groove-like recess 9, and further in that a plurality offittings 51 are secured to the free end of the leg section 8 so as toclamp the windshield plate 2 between the fittings 51 and the projection13 or the weir-forming area of the leg section 8. The fittings 51 arelongitudinally spaced from each other, as shown in FIG. 13, although alongitudinally continuous single fitting may be alternatively used.

Still another embodiment of the windshield molding member 1 according tothe present invention is shown in FIGS. 14 and 15 which are respectivelysimilar to FIGS. 3 and 4, too. This embodiment differs from the previousembodiments in that the main body 4 is provided with a further legsection 52, and one or more fasteners 53 are secured to the shoulderportion 3a of the automobile body panel 3 by an adhesive agent, forexample. The leg section 52 is engaged with the fasteners 53 to maintainthe molding member 1 in place. Unlike in the previous embodiment, themolding member of this embodiment can be mounted in place by insertingthe leg section 8 into the gap 7, after the windshield plate 2 has beensecured onto the flange portion 3b of the body panel 3.

A further embodiment of the windshield molding member 1 according to thepresent invention is shown in FIGS. 16 and 17 which are respectivelysimilar to FIGS. 3 and 4, too. This embodiment differs from the previousembodiments in that a plastically deformable core element 6 of arelatively simplified cross sectional contour is embedded in the mainbody 4 of the molding member 1 so as to be partly exposed outside.

In these embodiments also, as in the embodiment of FIGS. 3 and 4, themain body 4 has a reference point (A) adjacent to the automobile bodypanel 3, which is spaced from the outer surface of the windshield plate2 by a first distance (h₁) along the upper portion 1a and by a second,relatively greater distance (h₂) along the side portion 1b. The tip endelement 14 of the lip section 5a is maintained in contact with the outersurface of the windshield plate 2 along the upper portion 1a and spacedtherefrom along the side portion 1b. Furthermore, the lip section 5adefines a first angle (θ₁) along the upper portion 1a and a second, lesssteep angle (θ₂) along the side portion 1b, relative to the oppositeouter surface portions of the windshield plate 2.

It will be appreciated from the foregoing detailed description that thepresent invention provides a novel and improved molding member forautomobile windshield plate, with a higher degree of freedom in respectof functional and ornamental design. A predetermined spatialrelationship of the molding member relative to the windshield plate, incombination with the specifically defined angular relationship of thelip section relative to the relevant outer surface portion of thewindshield plate, makes it readily possible to realize a weir of afunctionally sufficient cross-sectional area or height withoutdifficulties in terms of ornamental design requirements and/or presstechnology for producing the automobile body panel.

It is of course to be understood that the present invention is notlimited to the abovementioned specific embodiments only, and variousmodifications/alterations may be made without departing from the scopeof the invention.

For example, the plastically deformable core member 6 may be completelyembedded in the main body 4 of the molding member 1, without beingpartly exposed outside. When the channel 12 behind the lip section 5a inthe side portion 1b of the molding member 1 tends to be readilydeformed, as the lip section 5a happens to be applied with an externalforce in the direction toward the windshield plate 2, separate spacerelements may be inserted into the channel 12. Furthermore, the moldingmember 1 may include a main body 4 and a leg section 8 which areseparately prepared pieces connected to each other either integrally ordetachably.

I claim:
 1. A molding member, for an automobile windshield plate,comprising:an elongate main body for covering a gap between thewindshield plate and an adjacent automobile body panel, including upperand side portions to continuously extend along upper and side edges ofthe windshield plate, respectively, and a corner portion integrally andcontinuously connecting the upper and side portions with each other,said main body further including a first lip section to project toward awidthwise center region of the windshield plate, a second lip sectionextending toward the automobile body panel, and a leg section to projectin a direction substantially perpendicular to a relevant outer surfaceof the windshield plate and having means for retaining the moldingmember in place; said main body having a reference point to be locatedon said second lip section adjacent to said automobile body panel, saidreference point being spaced from the outer surface of the windshieldplate, when the molding member is in use, by a first distance along saidupper portion and a second, relatively greater distance along said sideportion; said first lip section having a tip end which is situated closeto the outer surface of the windshield plate along said upper portionand spaced therefrom along said side portion, when the molding member isin use; said first lip section defining a first angle along said upperportion and a second, less steep angle along said side portion, relativeto respectively opposite outer surface portions of the windshield platewhen the molding member is in use; and said leg section having meanscooperating with said first lip section for defining a weir along saidside portion, when the molding member is in use, between the outersurface of the windshield plate and the first lip section, said weirserving to prevent water from flowing across the molding member and tocollect and guide the water along the weir.
 2. The molding member as setforth in claim 1, wherein said main body is pre-subjected to such abending that said upper and side portions have contours correspondingrespectively to those of the upper and side edges of the windshieldplate.
 3. The molding member as set forth in claim 1, wherein said mainbody is adapted to be subjected to such a bending before or whenmounting the molding member in place that said upper and side portionsare deformed to have contours corresponding respectively to those of theupper and side edges of the windshield plate.
 4. The molding member asset forth in claim 1, wherein said lip section is pre-subjected to sucha plastic deformation that, when the molding member is in use, said tipend is in contact with the outer surface of the windshield plate alongsaid upper portion and spaced therefrom along said side portion.
 5. Themolding member as set forth in claim 1, wherein said leg section has arecess which is engageable with the edges of the windshield plate, formaintaining a spatial relationship of the molding member relative to thewindshield plate when the molding member is in use.